Troy’s Germinerio at her best when instincts take over

By
Laura Amato, Troy/The Record

Thursday, June 12, 2014

TROY >> Sometimes, Alina Germinerio thinks too much and she’ll be the first one to admit it.

The Troy High junior shortstop, in her third season on varsity, knows what the softball world expects of her; solid defensive plays and a bat that can knock even the most deceptive pitch deep in the outfield.

But, every now and then, Germinerio can be her own worst critic and when that happens, she can also stop herself in her own middle infield tracks.

This season, though, has been different and now, with the a New York State Class A semifinal against Williamsville South on Saturday, Germinerio is determined to not over-think it all.

“I tend to over-think it and I don’t play to my ability when I do that,” Germinerio said. “So I’ve been trying to kind of let things play out on its own and not push as hard as I usually do.”

Throughout the course of this season, Germinerio has worked with her team and on her own to improve both her game in the field and at the plate and it’s shown in the numbers that she’s been able to put up this spring.

In 74 at bats, she’s racked up 23 hits with 22 RBI and a .311 batting average. In the field, Germinerio’s defense is a near-constant highlight reel. She attacks any ball that heads her way at short and has picked up a reputation of literally laying out in the infield in order to make the play.

“I think Alina Germinerio is one of the greatest athletes to ever set foot in Troy High School, period,” Troy coach George Rafferty said. “I’ve been saying that a long time. She just is an amazing athlete and makes these plays defensively that you just go, ‘did she just make that play?’ It’s like you can’t believe that happened.”

In order to keep making those plays in the field, Germinerio has focused on the undeniable mental aspect of the game and controlling her own thought process every time the ball moves near her.

It hasn’t been easy.

“I’m a person that, when I don’t do the right thing or I miss something, I get very angry,” Germinerio said. “I kind of take myself out of it for the next plays or the plays to go. So what I’ve worked on is tolerating it and doing it for the next play and doing what I need to do for the next play and be more confident in myself. It’s about shaking it off and getting to the next play.”

So Germinerio has spent an entire season trying to find that balance, looking to make plays while not holding herself to an unreachable standard. It’s a fine line for a junior in high school to walk but heading into this weekend’s games, it’s one that Germinerio is counting on.

“My coaches know I’m here and I’m going to do everything I can,” she said. “I put more pressure on myself than I feel anyone else does. That’s really my personality though, so I’ve tried to tone it down a little bit. That’s not really my style, so it’s been kind of hard.”

Now, the only left to test Germinerio is this semifinal matchup and while she admits it’s something she’s been thinking about practically all week, she’s heading into the game with a clear head and focused determination.

“We are a great squad, put together we’re unbelievable,” Germinerio said. “I wouldn’t be where I’m standing without the person next to me. I’m just so grateful that these girls want it as much as I do. I know I can be crazy at times but I’m just glad that they understand where I come from. Going to states this week is just an unbelievable feeling.”